Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday offered to pay for Punjab Minister for Culture and Information Fayaz-ul-Hasan Chohan's mental checkup out of his own pocket.

While speaking to the media in Islamabad, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said, “Lies are being spewed regarding the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). Ministers lie and unfortunately, the prime minister has the same attitude. It's an old habit of his."

He added, “We have said it time and again that they can use any forum they want to make accusations. Lying like that is not befitting of the government.”

Abbasi continued, “If someone really wants to know how happy people are with the current government, they should go to the streets and ask them. When the 100-day progress report comes, we will know about the government's real 'progress'."

He further said, “At dharnas, Imran Khan has claimed he will establish the writ of the state. We are not aware of what the protesters said and only found out about them from the prime minister,” adding, “I was not aware of the talks about the army and court. Agreements were done [with the protesters] at night, which no one can comprehend.” 

When asked about his thoughts on Punjab information minister's comments regarding PML-N workers being involved in the protests, Abbasi said.

“The minister should get his head checked and I am ready to pay for it out of my own pocket.”

“The government should tell us what are they talking about with the International Monetary Fund? Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf government had vowed that they would rather die than go to them?" the former premier questioned.

He urged the government to take the parliament into confidence over the economic and security situation in the country.

“Such a huge incident happened in the country and no minister or prime minister took the parliament into confidence over it,” Abbasi criticised.

He added, "China is our friend and no visit to the country can be termed as a failure. It is important the prime minister inform us regarding the talks in China since a lot of things mentioned in the joint statement require clarification.”